Samos - Baltimore

The food was generally good and plentiful, but the seafood soup was overcooked and had a mushy texture. Out of our group of ten, only four of us had wine, yet everyone was charged a corkage fee of $2.50. I also didn’t order or receive the rice pilaf, but I was still billed for it. Additionally, a 20% fee was added for our large party. These extra charges come across as excessive and desperate. I think management needs to be made aware of this.

The staff appeared a bit understaffed, but our waitresses were hardworking and managed to serve everyone promptly. We received water right away, and when we were ready to order, our waitress came over as soon as she was available. We started with the grilled octopus appetizer and chose grilled bronzino and seafood Santorini as our main dishes. I would have enjoyed a beer with my meal, but the restaurant is BYOB—something we should have checked beforehand, as it isn't uncommon. The appetizer arrived within about five minutes and was fresh, hot, and delicious! Our main courses followed about 15 minutes later, which felt about right for our dining pace. Both plates were also fresh, hot, and absolutely wonderful. If you're craving authentic Greek cuisine, it's worth making the trip to Samos. The service and food were exceptional, and we definitely plan to return to try more dishes. One note: if you're expecting the typical gyro spot, this is not it. They do offer gyros, but they are not the main focus of the menu. When we left around 8:30 PM, there was a line out the door, indicating that this place is quite popular with the locals.

THE BEST GREEK RESTAURANT IN MARYLAND. The standards at Samos have set such a high bar that no other Greek restaurant can compare. Every time I try another Greek place, I end up disappointed and find myself returning to Samos for my fix. If you're craving Greek food, head to SAMOS on Oldham Street in Baltimore, MD. The service is outstanding—two lovely women serve the tables with charm and warmth. The ambiance is cozy, set in two connected row houses on the East Side of Baltimore; it's comfortable and inviting, without being overly fancy. If I could give more stars, I definitely would!

I travel routinely for business, and wish I could find restaurants of this quality in nearly any of the cities I visit. The food was outstanding, the service great and the price amazing. The best price to value in Baltimore, especially since it allows you to bring your own wine, with no corkage charge. Very small, probably 30 seats, and first come first served, with no reservations accepted, classic old school local restaurant.

How lucky are we in Baltimore to have such a great Greek restaurant serving up authentic Greek specialties since 1977! I think I have been coming here for over 30 years and have never been disappointed. The restaurant is not large – two rooms with tables for 2 and 4. They do not take reservations. It is brightly painted with scenes of Greece that only add to the charm of the restaurant. Tammy, our server, has been there for over 20 years, and she has mastered the art of taking care of her customers. We started off with the Kalamari, which immediately transported me back to Italy. It was a generous portion of calamari lightly breaded, fried to perfection, and served with marinara sauce. We were off to a great start. Our friends ordered two bowls of the Avgolemono soup. It was piping hot and delicious. My husband ordered the Souvlaki Platter with one steak skewer and one lamb skewer with roasted potatoes and vegetables. I had the Pastitsio, which was baked ziti layered with meat sauce and topped with creamy bechamel and parmesan. Oh my, I was in heaven. Both were served with a Greek salad. They make their own Greek salad dressing, and it is beyond good. You actually can buy a bottle of their dressing and keep bringing it back for refills which is what we do. Our friends ordered Grilled Chicken and Steak Souvlaki skewers as well as a side Greek salad and an order of roasted potatoes. Everything came with pita wedges. The portions were so generous that we have enough for lunch today. All of our dishes were freshly prepared using quality ingredients. We really liked the fact that the restaurant is BYOB with a $2.50 per person charge. They are now also taking credit cards. Treat yourself and come to Samos for great service and food!